Issaquah shines at AMP Night program

April 17 marked the second annual AMP Night at Issaquah High School, sponsored by the Issaquah Junior Class Council.

Samantha Garrard Issaquah High School

AMP Night — a showcase of art, music and poetry — was a great example of Issaquah’s support for each unique student. More than 100 students from completely different social groups came together to perform and celebrate one another’s talents. Some students chose to perform a beloved song, others chose to recite an original poem and there was even a student who sang opera in a different language.

“AMP night is a great way for us to express our passion for music and get other people excited about music,” said Khalil Somani, a member of the group in the finale performance.

Clara Sifuentes (left), 17, and knitting club president Conrad Kelly, 17, use their lunchtime to take on projects for Tiger Mountain Community High School’s first Associated Student Body-endorsed club. By Tom Corrigan

They only meet once a week during lunch.

Nevertheless, the 10 or so members of Tiger Mountain Community High School’s first and so far only Associated Student Body-endorsed club have made an impact all around the area and as far as South Africa.

Students and staff members from Liberty, Issaquah, Tiger Mountain Community and Skyline high schools met March 27 at Issaquah High for a social event to highlight students from the four high schools’ learning resource classes, and let them meet new people and have a good time together.

The evening was organized by Associated Student Body seniors Jay Bowlby, Mason Gregory and Susie Tinker, and junior Olivia Fuller, all from Skyline.

Skyline’s leadership class created special VIP invitations to encourage LRC attendance. As students walked through the doors to Issaquah’s commons, they were greeted by friendly ASB members and given their first raffle ticket of the night. Colorful streamers and hanging stars gave the room a festive vibe.

Refreshments included free pizza, popcorn and water. For students who really wanted to quench their thirst — if they successfully landed a ring over a 2-liter bottle of soda in a ring toss — they were able to keep the soda.

Water. Whether it comes in a bottle, from a sink or we are swimming in it on a hot (well, here in Washington, mildly warm) summer day, it is an undeniable necessity.

Most of us are lucky enough to say that we have access to water whenever we want it. This seems like a given, but we often take it for granted.

In honor of Tolo week, Issaquah High School has begun an amazing project. The Associated Student Body is asking for donations to support charity: water, a nonprofit organization designed to bring clean water to parts of the world that do not have it as easy as we do.

At a recent assembly, students watched a video about these countries, and the facts were shocking. We came to learn that there are a billion people in the world without access to clean water. That means one in every eight human beings in our world are not able to turn on the faucet or open the fridge and grab an ice-cold water bottle.

Nicole Hancock and Anna Fairhart (from left) try their fashion runway walks as Regina Overton, of Seattle Talent, watches and gives instruction Feb. 9 during the first practice for the Issaquah High School Fashion Show and Auction. By Greg Farrar

During the first rehearsal for the upcoming inaugural Issaquah High School Fashion Show and Auction set for March 9, event co-chairwoman Pat Batt showed off a copy of a New Jersey newspaper. A native of that state, Batt pointed to one article in particular.

The article was coverage of a long-standing high school fashion show in Chatham, N.J. that last year raised $65,000. After seeing that story, Batt couldn’t think of any reason IHS couldn’t do the same. Batt granted that she doesn’t see the local event bringing in as much as the New Jersey event. Read more

Liberty High School student Stacey Hurwitz poses with a few of the letters she gathered to send to members of the United States military stationed overseas. Contributed

Liberty High School junior Stacey Hurwitz, 16, has no relatives serving in the military.

Still, she noticed some things regarding United States soldiers that bothered her. She saw news stories about high unemployment rates among former soldiers. She read a story about high suicide rates among military personnel over the holidays. In the end, she wanted to do something about what she saw and heard.

“I decided I could probably do something to help them,” Stacey said, adding she became determined to do something more personal than donate money.

Eric Thies, of Sammamish Troop 571, received his Eagle Scout Award in a Court of Honor ceremony Dec. 11 at the Skyline High School Theater.

On the road to Eagle Scout, Thies earned 28 merit badges, hiked more than 350 miles, spent 75 nights camping and provided more than 160 hours of community service.

He also earned the Triple Crown of National High Adventure award after completing a 110 mile backpack trek at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico, a 63-mile canoe trek out of the Northern Tier Canoe Base in Atikokan, Canada, and being a crew member aboard a 57-foot racing catamaran from the Bahamas Sea Base.

For his Eagle project, Thies led a crew of volunteers in the construction of stairway railing and installation of pathway lighting at Valley Camp in North Bend. The planning and completion of the project took almost 125 hours.

Thies is a senior at Skyline High School, where he is the co-community liaison for the Associated Student Body, and is a four-year team member of the state champion Skyline High School football program.

It’s a complex subject with a lot of variables and one that has ignited plenty of outspoken opinions.

But Patrick Murphy, executive director of secondary education for the Issaquah School District, said he believes a volunteer committee will meet a seemingly ambitious deadline and come up with a uniform schedule to be implemented at all four district high schools.

“That’s the goal,” Murphy said, noting the committee has two meetings and plenty of issues remaining.

In the meantime, many parents, especially those from Liberty High School, haven’t been shy about expressing their thoughts regarding the current high school schedules. Liberty operates on a different pattern than the other district high schools and many parents and students alike are defensive of the flexibility they believe that unique schedule allows.

Kayla Foremski, a senior at Issaquah High School, has been selected as the Red Robin Scholar Athlete of the Month by the Issaquah Booster Club and Red Robin Restaurant.

Laura Halter, Issaquah swim and dive coach, nominated Foremski, writing, “Kayla is one of the main reasons the swim team at IHS is the current KingCo sportsmanship award winner. She has always demonstrated great sportsmanship towards all of the other teams, their coaches and all officials. She is currently the captain of the team and has been doing a fabulous job all season. She is especially skilled in her communication with her team and coaches. She is often found watching and cheering on all of her teammates at the meets. She leads by example in the pool by taking her workouts very seriously and making sure everyone is working together.”

Foremski qualified for three events at the district meet. She dropped time in all her events, and her 200 freestyle relay team finished first overall.

Foremski also participates in club lacrosse. She joined the lacrosse team her freshman year and plays defense and midfield.